Though it was not sunny when I woke up this morning, it was completely quiet in my neighborhood minus the birds chirping outside my window and my clock ticking. I stayed there and just dozed for about an hour or so. I felt no rush to get up and go somewhere. My little postage stamp of a studio was nice and warm. While it may have not been the most french thing to do, all I could think was, "This is the life."
Recently I have been researching ways to stay here for another year, or at least to go back for the next academic year. Therefore, I am seriously considering getting my master's here at the University of Strasbourg. I am also working on a french CV and cover letter to send off to other possible employers. I am in the process of trying to renew my assistantship contract, but it is very rare that assistants get renewed. Though it would be nice to discover a new part of France, I just love Strasbourg too much to leave it...at least for now. Despite the frosty temperatures, there is just something charming about this univeristy city. The swans, ducks, and ragoundins (in english coypu--GREAT scrabble word) in the river alongside the trees that look like upside down chicken legs aren't the most glamourous. Nonetheless, Strasbourg is a quaint, medium-sized city that will never admit how great it really is (but that's one of the things I love about it). To add to everything, it is an international city that has a place for everyone, literally. You just have to find it.
With that being said, I just went to an Australia Day party hosted by my friend Anne. It was quite a lovely evening with Australian desserts (caramel slice, coconut slice, melting moments, nougat, and Tim Tams). We all chipped in and attempted to make an Australian dessert--and everything was a success! It was nice to have a calm Saturday night. My friends and I have an established routine by now: Irish pub quiz Sunday night (the bar is literally called, "l'Irish", Homemade meal Monday, IKEA meatballs Tuesday (they are half off on Tuesdays, ie a very cheap meal!).
Tomorrow is Sunday in France, where you have the best excuse to do nothing--because everything is closed. In nice weather they are ideal days for long walks or runs. In the winter, I have adopted a routine of yoga and then the pub quiz. It has also turned into a day where I try and do a tandem with other people (They help me with french and I help them with English). As frustrating as it may sound, after all these years of learning french, I still have a lot of work to do on my french :-/ Oh well, one is never ever finished learning a language, because language is always evolving.
So, until next time, I'm just going to keep enjoying life...and I hope you all can say the same! Enjoy the small victories, appreciate the humbling comments from your boss, take time to feel whatever emotion you feel but don't dwell on it. Well, I'll stop preaching there. Hope all is well on your side of the world! Namaste :)
